Prestressed Concrete Structures Dr. Amlan K Sengupta and Prof.

Devdas Menon

6.2 Calculation of Crack Width

This section covers the following topics.
• Introduction
• Method of Calculation
• Limits of Crack Width

6.2.1 Introduction

The crack width of a flexural member is calculated to satisfy a limit state of serviceability.
Among prestressed concrete members, there is cracking under service loads only for
Type 3 members. Hence the calculation of crack width is relevant only for Type 3
members. The crack width is calculated for the cracks due to bending which occur at
the bottom or top surfaces of a flexural member.

The flexural cracks start from the tension face and propagate perpendicular to the axis
of the member. This type of cracks is illustrated in Section 5.1, Analysis for Shear. If
these cracks are wide, it leads to corrosion of the reinforcing bars and prestressed
tendons. Also, the cracks tend to widen under sustained load or cyclic load. To limit
the crack width, Type 3 members have regular reinforcing bars in the tension zone
close to the surface, in addition to the prestressed tendons.

The crack width of a flexural crack depends on the following quantities.

1) Amount of prestress
2) Tensile stress in the longitudinal bars
3) Thickness of the concrete cover
4) Diameter and spacing of longitudinal bars
5) Depth of member and location of neutral axis
6) Bond strength
7) Tensile strength of concrete.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Prestressed Concrete Structures Dr. Amlan K Sengupta and Prof. Devdas Menon

6.2.2 Method of Calculation

IS:456 - 2000, Annex F, gives a procedure to determine flexural crack width. The
design crack width (Wcr) at a selected level on the surface of the section with maximum
moment is given as follows.

3acr εm
Wcr = (6-2.1)
2 ( acr - Cmin )
1+
h- x

The notations in the previous equation are as follows.

acr = shortest distance from the selected level on the surface to a
longitudinal bar
Cmin = minimum clear cover to the longitudinal bar
h = total depth of the member
x = depth of the neutral axis
εm = average strain at the selected level.

The values of Cmin and h are obtained from the section of the member. The evaluation
of the other variables is explained.

Evaluation of acr
The location of crack width calculation can be at the soffit or the sides of a beam. The
value of acr depends on the selected level. The following sketch shows the values of acr
at a bottom corner (A), at a point in the soffit (B) and at a point at the side (C).

Neutral axis
C acr3

acr1 acr2
A
B
Figure 6-2.1 Cross-section of a beam showing the distances from surface to the
nearest longitudinal bar

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Prestressed Concrete Structures Dr. Amlan K Sengupta and Prof. Devdas Menon

Usually the crack width is calculated at a point in the soffit, which is equidistant from two
longitudinal bars. This point is the location of maximum estimated crack width. The
following sketch shows the variables used in computing acr.

s
db
Cmin acr dc

Figure 6-2.2 Cross-section of a beam showing variables for calculation

Using geometry, the value of acr is obtained from the following equation.

2
s d
acr = ⎛⎜ ⎞⎟ + dc 2 - b (6-2.2)
⎝ 2⎠ 2

Here,
db = diameter of longitudinal bar
dc = effective cover = Cmin + db/2
s = centre-to-centre spacing of longitudinal bars.

The values of db, dc and s are obtained from the section of the member.

Evaluation of x and εm
The values of x and εm are calculated based on a sectional analysis under service loads.
The sectional analysis should consider the tension carried by the uncracked concrete in
between two cracks. The stiffening of a member due to the tension carried by the
concrete is called the tension stiffening effect. The value of εm is considered to be an
average value of the strain at the selected level over the span. The following sketch
illustrates the cracking and the uncracked concrete in a flexural member.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Prestressed Concrete Structures Dr. Amlan K Sengupta and Prof. Devdas Menon

Uncracked
Cracked section
concrete
Figure 6-2.3 Elevation of a beam showing the cracking and uncracked concrete

The analysis of a Type 3 member should be based on strain compatibility of concrete

and prestressing steel. IS:456 - 2000 recommends two procedures for the sectional
analysis considering the tension stiffening effect.
1) Rigorous procedure with explicit calculation of tension carried by the concrete.
2) Simplified procedure based on the conventional analysis of a cracked section,
neglecting the tension carried by concrete. An approximate estimate of the
tension carried by the concrete is subsequently introduced.

Here, the simplified procedure is explained. For a rectangular zone under tension, the
simplified procedure gives the following expression of εm.

b ( h - x )( a - x )
εm = ε1 - (6-2.3)
3Es As ( d - x )

For a prestressed member, (EpAp + EsAs) is substituted in place of EsAs.

The second term considers the tension carried by the concrete approximately by
reducing the strain (ε1) obtained from the analysis of a cracked section.

In the above expression,

a = distance from the compression face to the level at which crack
width is calculated
= h, when the crack width is calculated at the soffit
b = width of the rectangular zone
d = effective depth of the longitudinal reinforcement
As = area of non-prestressed reinforcement
Ap = area of prestressing steel.
Es = modulus of elasticity of non-prestressed steel
Ep = modulus of elasticity of prestressed steel

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Prestressed Concrete Structures Dr. Amlan K Sengupta and Prof. Devdas Menon

ε1 = strain at the selected level based on a cracked sectional analysis

= εs(a – x)/(d – x)
εs = strain in the longitudinal reinforcement.

The depth of neutral axis (x) can be calculated by a trial and error procedure till the
equilibrium equations are satisfied. The following sketch shows the beam cross section,
strain profile, stress diagram and force couples under service loads. The contribution of
non-prestressed reinforcement is also included.

b εc fc
0.33x
dp x C
d
Ap
fp Tp
As εs
εdec fs Ts
εp

Cross-section Strain Stress Force

Figure 6-2.4 Sketches for analysis of a rectangular section

The expressions of the forces are as follows.

C = 0.5Ecεcxb (6-2.4)
Tp = ApEpεp (6-2.5)
Ts = AsEsεs (6-2.6)
Based on the principles of mechanics, the following equations are derived.

1) Equations of equilibrium
The first equation states that the resultant axial force is zero. This means that the
compression and the tension in the force couple balance each other.

∑F = 0
⇒ Tp +Ts = C
⇒ Ap E p εp + As Es εs = 0.5Ec εc xb (6-2.7)
The second equation relates the moment under service loads (M) with the internal
couple in the force diagram.

M A = Ts ( d - d p ) + C ( d p - 0.33 x )
p

= As Es εs ( d - d p ) + 0.5Ec εc xb ( d p - 0.33 x )

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Prestressed Concrete Structures Dr. Amlan K Sengupta and Prof. Devdas Menon

(6-2.8)

The value of M should be equal to the moment due to service loads.

2) Equations of compatibility
The depth of the neutral axis is related to the depth of CGS and the depth of non-
prestressed reinforcement by the similarity of the triangles in the strain diagram.

x εc
= (6-2.9)
d p εc + ε p - εdec
x εc
=
d εc + εs (6-2.10)

3) Constitutive relationships
Linear elastic constitutive relationships are used in the earlier expressions of C, Ts and
Tp.

The known variables in the analysis are: b, d, Ap, As, εdec, Ec, Ep, Es, M.
The unknown quantities are: x, εc, εp, εs.

The steps for solving the above equations are given below.
1) Assume εc
2) Assume x.
3) Calculate εp and εs from Eqn. (6-2.9) and Eqn. (6-2.10), respectively.
4) Calculate C, Tp and Ts from Eqns. (6-2.4), (6-2.5), (6-2.6), respectively.
5) If Eqn. (6-2.7) is not satisfied, change x. If Tp + Ts < C, decrease x. If Tp
+ Ts > C, increase x.
6) Calculate M from Eqn. (6-2.8). If the value differs from the given value, change
εc and repeat from Step 2.

6.2.3 Limits of Crack Width

Clause 19.3.2 of IS:1343 - 1980 specifies limits of crack width such that the
appearance and durability of the structural element are not affected.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Prestressed Concrete Structures Dr. Amlan K Sengupta and Prof. Devdas Menon

The limits of crack width are as follows.

Crack width ≤ 0.2 mm for moderate and mild environments
≤ 0.1 mm for severe environment.

The types of environments are explained in Table 9, Appendix A of IS:1343 - 1980.

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